Wits — Student portal

Wits Self-Service 2026: how to log in and use it

Wits Self-Service is the PeopleSoft-based admin portal for applications, registration, results and fees. ulwazi is the Canvas-based LMS for course content. Here's how to use both.

Updated 17 May 2026 ·By GoCareers

Open Wits Self-Service

Self-Service URL: self-service.wits.ac.za
LMS: ulwazi.wits.ac.za (Canvas)
Email format: studentno@students.wits.ac.za
App fee (SA UG): R100 (R200 for PG)
ICT Helpdesk: 011 717 1717
Student Call Centre: 011 717 1888

Who uses Wits Self-Service

Applicants to Wits (undergraduate and postgraduate)
Current Wits students for registration, fees, results
Issued a Wits Person Number on application submission
Returning students use existing Wits network credentials

What you'll need to log in

Wits Student ID / Person Number (issued on application acknowledgement email)
Wits password — for first-time login, your date of birth in YYMMDD format
For password reset: registered local SA mobile number for SMS OTP
Current Chrome or Firefox browser

Step by step

Open the canonical Self-Service URL

Go to self-service.wits.ac.za (with the hyphen). The non-hyphenated selfservice.wits.ac.za may redirect but the hyphenated version is what Wits publishes.

Tip: Wits Self-Service is built on Oracle PeopleSoft Campus Solutions. Use latest Chrome or Firefox — Safari and older Edge can render the interface poorly.
Enter your Student ID / Person Number

Your Person Number is issued via your application acknowledgement email.
Enter your password

First-time login: initial password is your date of birth in YYMMDD format (e.g. 861224 for 24 December 1986). You'll be prompted to change it.

Current students: use your existing Wits network password.
Click Sign In

You'll land on your dashboard with tiles for applications, registration, finance, results, transcripts and more.
For ulwazi (LMS) — separate URL

Course content, assignments and grades live on ulwazi.wits.ac.za (Canvas-based). Not on Self-Service.

Tip: If you only see admin tasks on Self-Service, you're in the right place. Click through to ulwazi separately for course content.

What you can do on Wits Self-Service

Apply for admission (undergraduate and postgraduate — Wits applies directly, not via CAO)
Accept or decline a firm/provisional offer and complete the mandatory Wits Student Contract
Register for courses online (returning students register in January; new students after accepting offer)
View examination results (mid-year and end-of-year; blocked if fees outstanding)
View and print fee statements and pay fees online via the Campus Finances tile
Upload supporting documents (Documents and Communications tile → Manage Documents)
View financial aid and residence application status
Request a digital academic transcript — sent free to your Wits email
Update personal details (cell number, email, address)
View timetables, venues, and graduation dates

Course materials, lectures and assignments are not on Self-Service — they live on ulwazi.

Wits portals at a glance

Portal	URL	Purpose
Self-Service	self-service.wits.ac.za	Admin: registration, fees, results, applications
ulwazi (LMS)	ulwazi.wits.ac.za	Canvas-based — course content, assignments, grades
Sakai (legacy LMS)	—	Phased out from 2021; effectively retired
MyWits hub	wits.ac.za/mywits	Landing page for all student services
Student Email	studentnumber@students.wits.ac.za	Microsoft 365 / Outlook
Wits Library	wits.ac.za/library	Library services and databases
WIReDSpace	wiredspace.wits.ac.za	E-theses, dissertations, open-access research
ICT Service Desk	witshelp-ism.saasiteu.com	Log IT support tickets
Mobile device registration	mydevice.wits.ac.za	Wi-Fi / device registration

Application via Self-Service

Wits accepts applications directly through its own portal — it does not use CAO. Apply at wits.ac.za/applications, receive a Person Number, then complete payment and document upload on self-service.wits.ac.za.

Maximum of three programme choices per application.

Application timing (2026 for 2027 intake)

Opens: typically 1 March 2026 (community-reported; Wits doesn't always publish the open date prominently)
Closes 30 June 2026: All Faculty of Health Sciences programmes, Bachelor of Architectural Studies, Bachelor of Audiology, Bachelor of Speech-Language Pathology, BA Film & TV
Closes 30 September 2026: All other undergraduate programmes and residence applications
Postgraduate closing dates vary by school

Application fees

Undergraduate, SA citizens: R100
Undergraduate, international/foreign: R700
Postgraduate (all applicants): R200

Pay via the Campus Finances tile → Make a Payment → Application Fee, or by direct EFT to FNB (Acct 6307 5484 302, branch 251905, SWIFT FIRNZAJJ) using your Person Number as reference.

Forgot password — two separate reset systems

A common point of confusion at Wits — there are two distinct password reset paths:

1. Self-Service / student network password: witsapps.wits.ac.za/studentpasswordreset — requires student number and registered local SA mobile number for SMS OTP. Two-step process; you must have pre-registered for self-service reset.
2. Application portal (applicants without a network account yet): Use the "Forgotten your Temporary ID and/or Password?" link on the self-service login page. Enter your registered email and ID number.

General staff/student password page: wits.ac.za/people/password-reset.

If you're still locked out or the OTP fails: contact the Wits ICT Service Desk on 011 717 1717.

Phishing-warning loop — users sometimes get a "phishing alert" screen on login; usually a session or cookie issue. Clear browser cache and try Incognito.
Browser compatibility — Wits recommends current Chrome or Firefox. PeopleSoft renders poorly on Safari and older Edge; pop-ups must be allowed.
Outstanding fees block — results and registration are hidden when fees are unpaid.
Peak-time outages — Self-Service has historically had downtime during January registration period; monitor at isdown.co.za/status/self-service.wits.ac.za.

Mobile access

Wits Mobile app is the official app, on iOS (App Store id 1638185219) and Android (package ac.za.wits.mobile.apps).

Features: campus map, ulwazi shortcut, library, computer-lab booking, ICT support tickets, Gateway to Success portal.

Self-Service itself is not natively in the app — students access it via mobile browser. The Canvas Student app provides native access to ulwazi.

Contact — Wits ICT Helpdesk

Phone: 011 717 1717
Email: itstudenthelp@wits.ac.za
Ticket portal: witshelp-ism.saasiteu.com
Walk-in: 1st Floor, South West Side, Senate House
Student Call Centre (admin / applications): 011 717 1888

Frequently asked questions

How do I log into Wits Self-Service?

Go to self-service.wits.ac.za, enter your Student ID / Person Number (issued on application acknowledgement), and your password. First-time users: initial password is your DOB in YYMMDD format.

What is the Wits self-service portal URL?

self-service.wits.ac.za (with the hyphen). The non-hyphenated version may redirect but the hyphenated form is canonical.

How do I reset my Wits student password?

Use witsapps.wits.ac.za/studentpasswordreset for the student network password. Use the "Forgotten your Temporary ID" link on the Self-Service login for the application portal. If still locked, call 011 717 1717.

How much is the Wits application fee for 2026?

R100 for South African undergraduate applicants. R700 for international undergraduate. R200 for all postgraduate. Pay via the Campus Finances tile on Self-Service or by EFT.

When do Wits applications close?

30 June for Health Sciences, Architecture, Audiology, Speech-Language Pathology, BA Film & TV. 30 September for all other undergraduate programmes and residence applications.

What is the difference between ulwazi and Sakai?

ulwazi is the current Wits LMS, Canvas-based, at ulwazi.wits.ac.za. Sakai was the previous LMS, phased out from 2021. All active teaching is on ulwazi.

How do I check my Wits application status?

Log into Self-Service and navigate to the Admissions/Applications tile. Status updates as the admissions office processes your application.

How do I pay my Wits application fee?

Via the Campus Finances tile → Make a Payment → Application Fee on Self-Service. Or EFT to FNB Acct 6307 5484 302, branch 251905, using your Person Number as reference.

Why can't I see my Wits results on Self-Service?

The most common reason is outstanding fees — Wits blocks results until your account is up to date. Pay or arrange a payment plan with Student Accounts.

What is my Wits student email address?

studentnumber@students.wits.ac.za, accessed via Microsoft 365 / Outlook.

How do I request a Wits academic transcript?

Log into Self-Service and use the transcript request feature — a digital transcript is sent free to your Wits email.

Related guides

South African Universities 2026 — complete guide

All 26 public universities, APS, NSFAS and how to apply.

UCT online portals

UCT's PeopleSoft + Amathuba equivalent — different login format.

How to apply for NSFAS 2026

Funding for Wits tuition and allowances.

Last updated 17 May 2026. We review and refresh this guide regularly — if something here is out of date, let us know.